The
terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, dealt the aviation industry - and,
indeed, the entire world - an almost unimaginable shock. Boeing sprang
to action literally the next day to search for ways to make the air transport
system still safer and more secure.

The aviation community quickly focused on finding concrete steps to enhance
security. Two panels appointed by U.S. Transportation Secretary Norman
Mineta analyzed where the system could be made stronger in October and
made specific recommendations.

Boeing Commercial Airplanes acted by appointing longtime aviation security
veteran Charlie Higgins vice president of Safety and Security Services.
Higgins led the company in its effort to work with the entire industry
- airlines, regulators, pilots, flight attendants and other manufacturers
- first to define requirements and then set standards for secure aircraft.